Pharaoh Hound is a graceful and elegant dog breed. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and paintings dating back to 3000 B.C. show Pharaoh Hounds as hunting partners and companions, making them one of the oldest breeds known today. King Tutankhamen had a Pharaoh Hound named Abuwitiyuw that he treasured. When his dog died, he had him embalmed as a nobleman of that time would be.

The Pharaoh Hound dogs are 21 to 25 inches tall with weight in proportion to height. These sighthounds are elegant, graceful, and made for speed. The head is wedge-shaped, the eyes are amber, and the ears are upright. The body is slightly longer than tall, with a deep chest and moderate tuck-up. The tail is tapered and usually has a white tip. The coat is short and is tan to chestnut, with white on the chest.

The Pharaoh Hound dog breed has an interesting characteristic: When excited, the insides of the ears and the nose blush to a rosy pink color. The short coat should be brushed weekly. As with most sighthounds, this breed loves to run and is incredibly fast. All exercise should take place in a fenced-in area, however, as this breed has a high prey drive; if a small animal is flushed, the Pharaoh Hound dog could be gone in a flash.

In the house, the Pharaoh Hound enjoys being a couch potato, curling up in a warm, comfy spot. Pharaoh Hounds are bright and intelligent and want nothing more than to make their owners smile. Their training should be firm yet fun, and should begin early. Since the Pharaoh Hound breed is often wary of strangers, socialization should begin early, too. Pharaoh Hounds have been successful in obedience competition, agility, and lure coursing. Although bred for thousands of years to be a hunting sighthound, this breed can make a wonderful family pet. When raised with children, the Pharaoh Hound can be a great friend but will not tolerate rough handling. She is also good with other dogs and with cats when raised with them. The Pharaoh Hound does have a strong prey drive, so care should be taken with other smaller pets. Health concerns include hip dysplasia and allergies.